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Friday, April 30, 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010

I think I have told you that I am doing an online Bible Study with a group on The Country Woman using the book called The Excellent Wifeby Martha Peace. I have been so excited about this. Proverbs 31:10-31 are my verses!! I love them. I have always strived to be a good wife. Our assignment so far is to read the first chapter which I have already done. I was sharing with someone how much this book has helped me already. I invited this person to join but she said she was not married. I told her that I do understand that this is about a wife but it is so much more to me. I think what I have read so far is telling me how to be a better person. So far what I have read has helped me in my everyday life with everyone. I thought that I would share with you a few traits for an excellent wife in the first chapter. So if you are not married just apply this to your life. It will change you. It will make you stop and think. Your attitude changes or mine has. When I love something I just have to share. So here are a few of the traits portrayed in Proverbs 31. I am trying to use this in every area of my life. Our whole purpose in life is to glorify God through our life. We are suppose to be a reflection of God. We reflect HIM by our attitudes and actions. Chapter 1 asks if these are qualities that I want in my life. My answer is yes.

Kind

Fears the Lord

Blessed by her children

Careful

Praised

Not afraid

Worker with hands

Wise

Generous

Good to her husband

Of exceptional worth

Respectful of her husband

Trusted

Don't you agree that we can take these traits and apply them to our lives whether you are married or not? I know it says children and husband but it also says respectful, good, and blessed. The main thing is to have this attitude of Christ. Christ like. Will we do this all the time? No, we are human. Can we strive for this? Yes, that is the point.

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Snippets From My Heart

Now you know that I cannot do a post without mentioning Granny. I can't help it right now. But as I listed those traits I honestly thought of her. This list is her. Well my PaPaw has been gone about 16 years I think. I know Granny's life changed so much when he passed away. When I was small I never remember Granny as anything but good. I am not saying that because she is gone. I am saying it because it is true. But you know what? When we would talk even up until 2 weeks before she passed away she always questioned her faith. She wanted to make sure she was ready to go. What an example for all of us. Even though she is gone I truly believe that we will still learn from her. The Bible in the picture above was given to me by my dad. It is Granny's Bible. He had given it to her a long time ago. I will treasure it always. This is the Bible that she read every morning. How special is that? Granny was the Proverbs 31 woman. I am so blessed. I have had 2 grandmothers that portray these traits. I bet they are together right now talking. I am also so blessed to have my Momin my life which is the greatest example to me in my life. So I have 3 Proverbs 31 women to learn from. I am blessed.

Proverbs 31:10-31

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If you would like to read or sign Granny's guestbook please go to my sidebar and click on Granny's picture at the top of the page and put her name in the search obituaries box. Her name is Beulah Gribble. Then you can sign or read the guestbook.

This guestbook has gave me great comfort.

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Notes of interest:

Granny's Quilts

I have most of the Granny quilts that I needed to ship, boxed up and ready to go. It was a hard thing to start but once I got started I remembered how Granny loved to watch me and sometimes helped me put them in the boxes. I am amazed that I took the money out of my acct. and paid her several weeks ago for these specific quilts. I have only done that once before . Little did I know the reason why. Granny was always so thrilled to see her paychecks (cash) as I sold these quilts for her. You gave her hope right up until the end. Thank you again.

Random Act of Kindness

Because of Granny's passing it will take me a while longer to work on these gifts. I am still so excited about this. It is something I really wanted to do. But please bear with me as I am trying to deal with this loss in my heart. I had planned to purchase Granny quilts for these gifts but now that will have to be changed. This project will take me some time. I sure am glad I didn't put a time limit on it. I am still looking forward to this though. I have just got to find the perfect gifts for each person.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Outside my window....................it is dark and cool. I think it is Blackberry winter.

I am thinking..............about my daddy. His heart has a big hole in it since Granny is gone.

I am thankful...............that we have the hope that we can see our loved ones again.

I am wearing............... Rubber ducky pajamas!!

I am remembering..............an email that I received from my cousin Nancy tonight and how it meant the world to me.

I am going..............to try to work outside tomorrow.

I am currently reading................The Excellent Wife

I am hoping................that my garden dries up so we can get it planted.

On my mind.................My sweet family.

I am creating................nothing but I am going to get busy next week. My Mom and I are anxious to get back to sewing.

Pondering these words...............A sweet email sent to me from Maranda: This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use it as I will. I can waste it or I can use it. I can make it a day long to be remembered for its job, its beauty and its achievement; or it can be filled with pettiness and ugliness. What I do today is important, for I am exchanging a day in my life for it. When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, but I shall hold something which I have traded for it. It may be no more than a memory; but if it is a worthy one I shall not regret the price. I should like it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success certainly not failure. So here is a day and here am I. God will not expect more of me than I am capable of giving, but he will expect my best. There will be beauty and I dare not miss it. There will be cries of people in distress, and I must hear and answer. There will be moments of temptation, but I must not yeild or be impulsive. There will be opportunity for good and I must be ready and when night comes, may I look back without regret, and forward with a radiant spirit and a thankful heart.

From the kitchen................ Chili's Restaurant with family.

Around my house..............getting ready for something very special that we do every year at this time.

One of my favorite things.................My family.

I am wishing.................that I could have gone to visit Granny this week. I miss her.

I am praying..................formy son and K's son.

I am wondering.................whats next?

From my picture journal.............My cousin Nancy was telling me how she loves to burn things outside and how Granny used to be like that. I also would rather be outside than inside anyday so I thought I would share one of my burn piles. She shared with me how Granny had her field on fire several times by accident. I guess you could say that we take after our Granny! We miss her so much.

Monday, April 26, 2010

This little cafe is one that we always stop at on the way home.The only thing on this menu that I have ever eaten is the grilled veggie sandwich and soup.

Oh my goodness! I just wish you could taste this!The picture sure does not do it justice.It is delicious! We drove into our driveway as we came home and saw this!It is the most beautiful color and even though I see it every year at this time it always refreshes me. It is like taking a deep deep breath!

I forgot to tell you that we stopped by one of my favorite thrift stores on our way home from our little getaway. I paid about $1.00 for all of that ribbon and that afghan kit has not even been open. I paid 5.00 for it! I wonder if I can do it!!!

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SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART

Do you ever have a blah day? After we came home from our little getaway, I have just been in a blah mood! Wonder if blah is really a word? Anyway, this afternoon it hit me! I have been trying to read my Bible and pray everyday. I had not done that today! So I sat down and read a chapter in Psalms and then knelt down and prayed. Granny has told me over and over that if something interrupted her and the Lord's time together that her day just didn't go well. She had a routine everyday. She would get up, cook her breakfast, clean the kitchen, go to the living room and read her Bible and pray early in the morning. She said that this always made her day go better. One time she told me to kneel when you pray because one day you will not be able to. Daddy always told me that he didn't go to her house until about 8:30 am because that gave her plenty of time to read and pray. I am reading in Psalms. I have been trying to read a chapter or so a day. I am also starting that online Bible study this week so I am very excited about it.

Read & Pray..............A lesson from Granny.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.Revelation 1:3*************Don'tforget to sign Granny's guestbook, click here. Look for Beulah Gribble.

My sweet hubby & Lane (SIL) are on some hunting land together so about 2 weeks ago we loaded up and went down to check it out.

We had so much fun. Lane has a 4 wheeler and we have our gator so off we went. It was a beautiful day and we saw lots of deer and turkey signs.

The gator did great except in narrow places so guess what hubby wants now???

Yep, a 4 wheeler! He had one but sold it and just hasn't bought one yet but he does need one. I loved my seat. I tried sitting in the front but the gator is so wide I kept getting hit by branches so I hopped in the back and it was perfect.

These 2 are just alike. I love it. They were good friends before Maranda & Lane got married.I am so proud to say that I have 3 great Son In Laws! They are all good Christian men.

What more can we ask?

We had so much fun that day together. We are looking forward to many more fun times like these with the honeymooners!******************SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART

Sometimes we have to go through things to get where we are going. The Lord is showing me so much. I have a lot to learn on this journey but I am so excited everyday just to get up and see what the Lord has for me. I am amazed that from the "trial" that I am walking through I am learning to look at myself instead of the trial. When Granny left us, it was like everything paused in my life. Who would have thought that the Lord would lead me to a book about Proverbs 31? We have been married 31 years and had a great marriage. But as I have started reading "The Excellent Wife" I am seeing what the Lord is teaching me. It all starts with MY relationship with the Lord and it all starts with "ME". In this book it lists 20 traits that are shown in Proverbs 31. The goal in our lives is to be like Christ. I always knew that, but I am seeing more and more how I can move up. Our relationship with HIM is the number one most important thing in our lives. Since I did this post on the "honeymooners".......I wish for them and all of my children blessed marriages, but most of all I pray for them to all have that one on one relationship with our Lord.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Proverbs 31:10*************

Granny

I have to tell you all that I am amazed everyday at Granny's guestbook. She had such a crowd at the funeral home, that the line was out to the parking lot but on the guestbook it is mostly you bloggers and Granny Fans! I cannot thank you all enough. Granny reached the world as a witness for her Lord just through her simple life and she didn't even have a clue the impact she has had on all of us. Granny IS a Proverbs 31 woman. If you haven't signed or read the guestbook lately you can go here. Her name is Beulah Gribble. This guestbook means the world to me. I will treasure it always.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I cannot believe all of the blessings that I have received. My friend Julie encourages me all the time through her blog. She had sent me her phone number in case I needed her and today I just wanted to call her and tell her thank you in person. (well kind of in person- on the phone!). I left her a message and she returned my call. Oh what a blessing she is! She is the one that invited me to join a Bible study based on Proverbs 31:10-31 at A Country Woman. . If you know me at all, you know that this is my favorite verses in the Bible. This is what I want to be. I am very excited about this Bible study. I started reading this book today and am so blessed already. Julie & I talked and shared our hearts and you would think that we have known each other forever. At the end of our phone call she prayed a sweet prayer for me. Thank you Julie! You are right we did not meet (through our blogs) by accident. You were sent to me as a blessing.

The day that Granny passed away my friend Rachelle (from my church)came and brought us breakfast and stayed most of the day with me. She let me talk and cry.

Then at the funeral home my friend Reba brought food and stayed the whole evening there taking care of things. Even though I was not with her much, she stayed anyway.

Regina (from church) came and brought cards and a sweet gift to us. Sandy (our angel) came just to love on me. Our best friends Vicki & Eddie came and stayed and was there for whatever we needed. There are so many more but this is just an example of how my family was blessed.I can't even list the emails, cards, and gifts. There are so many. I have to tell you what a blessing all of you that bought a quilt from Granny were to her. It all started by Martha emailing and asking if Granny would consider selling a quilt to her. That started the snowball of Granny selling her quilts here on my blog. I didn't even try. We have record of 79 quilts being sold here on the blog. Many would email and just tell me to pick one out for them. Granny would always tell me thank you but I told her it was her that sold the quilts....not me. I encourage you to go to Martha's blog and read here and here! So precious.

We are blessed.

I have already told you about my 3 girls blessing me by cleaning my house. Thank you girls!Shannon, my oldest daughter won this quilt top at a Church auction. It is all hand sewn. She brought it to me and gave it to me. I think it is beautiful and it reminds me of Granny's quilts. I just hope it doesn't take me 25 years to finish like my first quilt! (smile)

Look at this quilt. It is huge. Shannon found it at a yard sale. I could not believe that she gave me this too! I love it. Thank you Shannon. There are more blessings that you will be hearing about soon.And then I have to thank YOU for all of the condolences for Granny. I am sure she is reading them and is so proud. If you would like to read or signGranny's Guest Book you can go Here! Look for her name, Beulah Gribble- click on it- go to guestbook. The Funeral home will be mailing the Guest book to our family after 30 days. Thank you so much.

***************SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART

I have been wondering what the Lord is trying to show me. You all know that I am walking through a trial but it is quiet right now. It is still there though. Before Granny (My Dads Mother) passed away I was listening to that still small voice and I was hearing from the Lord. There is no doubt in my mind. Then I was shocked when Granny left us. It was like my life was put on pause for a few days. I went on with life but wondered why. Yes, I know that she was 96 years old but I did not expect this at all. The same thing happened when my Grandma (my Mothers Mom) died several years ago. I just got so used to going to see them that this just doesn't feel natural. But it was their time. I don't like it. But who am I? Anyway, as I shared with Julie this afternoon.......I have been asking myself what the Lord is trying to show me. I have been praying and reading my Bible trying to get answers. Well I started reading this book, "The Excellent Wife". As I read the first part of it and how it talked about our relationship with the Lord and our husbands, I realized what HE is trying to show me. HE is showing me that HE is GOD! It was a light bulb moment when I realized this. HE is GOD! I am not in charge. HE is!

HE is GOD!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Outside my window..........it is dark and cool. I am writing this at 10:30 P.M.

I am thinking..........how life goes on even when your heart is broken. Also, I am wondering while I am still in the midst of that same trial that I was before Granny left us, what does all this mean? Am I still listening for that still small voice?

I am thankful..........for me and my dad to have work so we can keep busy at this time in our life. Normally I would have already saw Granny twice this week. My daddy would go over every morning to help Granny get everything ready to sew.

I am wearing..........blue p.j.'s!

I am remembering............the day Granny got sick. We had a job to do and we went ahead and did it thinking Granny just had a virus or something. My Aunt K. took her on to the emergency room to be safe though. We had no idea it would end like this. I did get to spend the whole day at the hospital the next day though. I treasure that time. If we had only known we would not have worked that day.

I am going.................to bed as soon as I finish this.

I am currently reading...............Granny's guestbook everyday and am absolutely amazed at all of you bloggers and friends who have left the most comforting comments. I am also reading all the cards and letters and emails about Granny. Thank you all.

I am hoping..................that time heals like they say.

On my mind.................Granny, of course. I am sorry. It will take me a while. I am trying. I also am thinking of the quilts I have to mail. Please bear with me.

I am creating................nothing, but hope to soon. Granny asks me to continue her quilting after she was gone and I will.

Pondering these words..............."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Phil. 4:13 - Do you remember that I gave Granny that verse a while back? When I went to the hospital and she was in so much pain, she quoted that verse over and over again. Remember when she told me that she kept that in her heart? (tears).

From the kitchen...............we actually went out to eat after working before coming home.

Around my house..............My 3 sweet daughters surprised me this past weekend and came and cleaned my house. What a blessing this was. What would I do without my girls?

One of my favorite things.................LIFE.

I am wishing................that even though I know without a doubt that if Granny could come back, she wouldn't..........but I sure do wish I could talk to her one more time. After she passed away, I did tell her how much fun we had together. I really did have fun and I know she did too. I think she heard me.

I am praying.............that you are still praying for our family. It was one week ago tonight when Granny passed on. We sure do miss her and I know that you do too. Please bear with me during this time.

I am wondering..............if I feel like this, I cannot imagine how my daddy and his brothers and sisters feel. I am just a granddaughter.

From my picture journal..................This picture was took on April 9th and Granny was just fine. It was "wash day" but she was headed toward the sewing machine to see what my daddy was doing. He was doing what he always did for her......filling bobbins.

This is the "last" picture that I took with the "picture taker" of my sweet Granny.

If you would like to read or haven't signed Granny's Guest Book you can go Here! Look for her name, Beulah Gribble- click on it- go to sign guestbook.

To read more entries from The Simple Womans Daybook you can click Here!

Monday, April 19, 2010

The Guestbook at the funeral home shows what a witness to the world Granny was. You can go here to sign it if you haven't already. Her name is Beulah Gribble. I am amazed at the Granny Fans & bloggers that loved her so. If you want a blessing, go view it. I sure got one. Thank you.

Enjoy this video from Granny! Just click the arrow button.

This video is from Sept. of last year.(forgive my voice- this was our first video with Granny). I remember asking Granny if she would like to thank the bloggers for buying her quilts. She was so funny and asked me, "Do I talk to that picture taker?" I said, just talk to me Granny. At that time she talks of making baby quilts. I actually suggested it to give her a rest but she made 2 and went back to the bigger quilts. That was her love. You will also hear about Grannys first love in this video. The Lord is what she completely depended on. He is her first love. She told me over and over that everytime I sold a quilt for her that it made her want to get up and get going in the morning. It gave her hope!

I have to tell you that all of Grannys children are so devoted to her.

I have watched over the past few years how they come and go and do for her.

Granny is (was) so blessed to live in her own home and still does (did) most everything for herself. I just cannot imagine how her children feel. I feel lost just knowing that Granny will not be there next week. But I will still go over even if it is just to sit on her porch. I love all of my cousins but I have to tell you that there are 2 that I have become very close to and that is Nancy and Julie. We experienced a special bond together with Granny that will be in my heart forever. I will be telling you more later but please continue to pray for all of our family.

For some reason, I could not even get my "picture taker" (as Granny calls it) out.I know that Granny is in the place she longed to be but I am so sad.I feel lost knowing that she will not be at her house anymore.I am crying for me and my family.But I can only imagine how happy she is right now.

I cannot thank you all enough for the prayers and the comments along with signing the guestbook. I was overwhelmed when I started reading all of the condolences sent from all of the "Granny Fans". If you have not signed Grannys guestbook you can go here. Look for her name Beulah Gribble and click on it, then go to sign guestbook. You all will never know what this means to us. I have read everyone of them. I know that Granny is reading them too. I will be printing them off for my dad. You all have been such a blessing to us all.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

As sad as this is for the family and friends and you bloggers, Granny got her miracle! Remember a couple of posts back? I came home from the hospital and I knew that I needed YOU to get on your knees for Granny. Not long after that post is when the call came in and I headed back to the hospital but she was already gone home to be with the Lord. I was thinking today...... We all reached heaven. Granny has hers made. Of course we all would have loved to have Granny with us longer but that just wasn't the plan. Granny got her miracle. This picture was took 2 years ago on her birthday as she praised the Lord. If you would like to sign Granny's guestbook it would mean the world to me (and Granny). I would love for the family to see how Granny reached the world and she did. You can go here and look for "Beulah Teasley Gribble." She passed away on April 13, 2010. Click on her name. It will take you to the obituary and then at the top you can see Sign Guestbook. We are about to leave to go to the funeral home. Thank you for all of the prayers and comments. Granny would be proud! She didn't understand the internet but she thought she was on t.v.! Is she not a doll? You will be hearing lots more about Granny. I promise.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

As soon as I posted that last post I got a phone call from my dad to come to the hospital.

I am so sorry to tell you all this but Granny is gone home to be with her Lord.

I am happy for her. She has no more pain. But I am broken hearted along with our whole family. Please pray for us. I will not be blogging for a few days as we go through this.

Thank you for all of your encouraging comments. You will never know what you all meant to Granny. In her severe pain today, she talked of all the quilts that you all have bought from her. I spent the whole day at the hospital with her. Tonight I got to see her and tell her how much fun we had together. She was already gone but I am so glad I got to see her tonight.

Granny

96 years old

I love her so much.

We had so much fun.

I will never forget her.

Thank you all for giving her so much happiness in her last days. She loved making quilts for you. For you that have paid for a quilt or are sending money just bear with me. I have the quilts. I just can't do it right now.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Last year we had it down lower in the field and it did great but stayed wet.

My dad suggested that we move it up higher in the pasture.

We have 6 acres so we have plenty of room to have it anywhere.

I probably will still have one down where I did last year but I will just plant corn in that garden.

Well sweet hubby plowed the ground up for me but his back started to hurt so I took over when it was time to cut the garden. Boy it was rough.

But I finally got the hang of it. I haven't drove a tractor in years.

We had to put blocks on top of it to add more weight.

I guess I went over this garden over 100 times that day.But since it is freshly plowed it will take a lot more than that.

Looking better huh? It helps for it to dry out some so I am gonna try to have it ready to plant this weekend. (I hope!) Do you plant a garden? I love it. It is a lot of work but when you see all the things that you have canned and froze it makes you so proud and keeps you out of the store.

I just thought I would show you what I have been doing lately.

When I am not working......I am still working!!!!

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SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART

When I first started my blog I put a prayer from my heart at the top of this blog. My blogs name is Lifes little garden. There was a reason that I named it that. Life is just like a garden.

Going through this trial the Lord has shown me to quit focusing on the problem and focus on HIM. I am also learning to look at myself instead of others. Everytime a negative thought enters my mind, I am trying to capture that thought and focus on HIM. Where would I be without my Lord?

Here is my prayer:

Lord, help us to plan, prepare and plant what YOU would have us to. Help us to weed out of our lives what should not be there. Lord, help us to grow through YOU in our relationships, our attitudes, and our lives, always being in YOUR will. Help us to always walk with YOU. Let us always be thankful and content. Amen.

I love springtime. It is just like everything is coming alive. Can you see the creek down below this dogwood?This is behind our house and when you are sitting on the screened in porch or the deck you can hear the creek running. Nothing sounds so good and peaceful.

I was sitting on my porch the other morning and I had been hearing some noises down in the woods but just thought it was squirrels. All of the sudden I hear a "Gobble"! I knew then I had turkeys down at the creek. I took this picture trying to capture them but they don't show up.There was a Jake, Tom and a hen. I think it is so funny that my hubby goes all these different places to turkey hunt and I sit on the porch and can actually hear and see them!

The bradford pear trees are just about through blooming and are turning green. They are lined up our front driveway. But just look at this plum tree. Isn't it beautiful?

Granny's PERFECT Quilt

It is PERFECT. Perfectly PERFECT. Oh I don't mean perfect stitches, or perfect seams, or perfectly square. It is PERFECT for snuggling under on a rainy, dreary day. It is PERFECT for wrapping up a grandchild who is spending the night. It is PERFECT for making a house when draped over a chair & an end table. It is PERFECT for winding around and around a doll. It is PERFECT for covering up in the car when the air conditioning is on full blast. It is PERFECT for laying on the carpet and putting a baby down for his nap. God has touched Granny's heart and her hands, and her life. He has made her an artist. He has given her the gift of PERFECT quilts.

Written by Marlene B. about the quilt she bought from Granny. (Excerpt from Oct. 7, 2009 post on her blog)

Our Forever Farm

Our Little PEACE of Heaven

"Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is place in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse in to the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into it's soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,--she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her." -JR Miller

Our Prayer

Lord, help us to PLAN, PREPARE, & PLANT what you would have us to. Help us to WEED out of our lives what should not be there. Lord, help us to GROW through you in our relationships, our attitudes, and our lives, always being in your will. Help us to always walk with you. Let us always be thankful and content. Amen